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2 Sheetssheet 1 mvzgmons Patented Mar.- 25, 1890,

AM ii- ATTORNEY.

N. PETERS Pholn-Llthographcr. Wulhlngturu D II (No Modei.)

' G. SMITH & 13.8. BRIGHT.

GRAGKER STAGKING MACHINE WITNESSES:

(No Model.)

G. SMITH & B. s. BRIGHT GRAGKER STAOKING MACHINE.

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WITNESS S: .J 0% )6 ATTORNEY.

2 Sheets-Sheet Patente MaL-ZE, 1890.

w mlmlln 1m UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE SMITH AND EDVARD S. iBRIGI-IT, OF BALTlMORE, MARYLAND,ASSIGrhTORS OF ONE-THIRD TO JAMES D. MASON & 00., OF SAME PLACE.

CRACKER-STACKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,435, dated March25, 1890.

' Application filed May 15, 1889. Serial No. 310,859. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE SMITH and EDWARD S. BRIGHT, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Cracker-StackingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved machine for stacking or arrangingcrackers and other bakery products in rows preparatory to packing themin boxes or barrels, as hereinafter described.

The features of ourinvention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 shows a vertical longitudinal section of themachine. Fig. 2 is a vertical crosssection taken on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine. Figs. 4: and 5 are topand side views, respectively, on a larger scale, of the chuteframe. Fig.6

is a sectional elevation of a portion of the machine, showing thechute-frames and tubes. Figs. 7 and 8 are vertical-and horizontalsections, respectively, on the lines 7 7 and 8 8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9represents detached views of the tube; and Fig. 10 represents a view ofa portion of the chute-frame, the vertical partitions located therein,and means for adjusting them. 7

The letter A designates a supporting-stand. Upon the top of the stand isan inclined frame B, which is connected by hinges a at its front end tosaid stand, and its rear' elevated end is supported by spiral springs12, and thereby may yield. A bolt 0 depends from the rear end of theframe and passes through a hole 0 in the stand-top, whereby the frame Bis allowed a limited vertical movement when the machine is in operation.The two side bars of the inclined frame B have longitudinalslide-grooves (Z, and a hop per 0, to receive the unstacked crackers orother bakers productions, has tongues d, which occupy the saidslide-grooves (Z 011 the yielding frame. The hopper inclines down fromthe rear toward the front end. A driveshaft D has a pulley e andreceives motion from any source by a belt e. The shaft also has acrank-head f, and a pitman-rod g is attached to the crank-head andconnects with a knuckle-plate h, fixed on the bottom of the hopper. Bythis construction the hopper C will be caused to vibrate longitudinally.

Revolving brushes E above the hopper, and extending crosswise thereof,are mounted in bearings t', wholly independent of the hopper C, so thatthey are not affected by the vibration of the hopper, but continue torevolve steadily while the hopper below them is vibrating. This isaccomplished by each end of the brush-shaft i having a pivoted arm 1'for its bearing, and each of the said arms being pivotally connected tothe top bar of the stand A by a pivot-pin j, and the arms inclineforward. The brushes are made to revolve by belts 7c, running overpulleys 011 the driveshaft D and brush-shaft i. The revolving brushes,of which one, two, or more may be used, keep the crackers spread on thebottom of the hopper, and prevent one cracker from lapping over on topof another.

The machine is constructed to stackand arrange both round and squarecrackers, a certainchange or adjustment being necessary to adapt it foreach kind. For square crackers we place parallel guides or partitions Flongitudinally in the front part of the hopper and adjust them apart byset-screws Zon a cross-bar Z. The square crackers pass or slide down thespaces between the guides F, and the latter prevent them from turning orrotating, which causes them to get choked up. For round crackers theguides F are removed, and the hopper-bottom is a plain unobstructedsurface. The hopper has at its front a depending chute-frame G, attachedto the hopper by a pivot on, as shown in Fig. 6, at each side. Thechute-frame at each side has a segment-slot n, and a set-screw n in thehopper projects through each slot.

In order to regulate the delivery of the cakes or crackers through thechute, the chuteframe G is made adjustable by means of the set-screw, sothat the chute can be set at various angles. The delivery of the cakesand crackers through and from the chute depends upon the inclination ofthe chute, which is effected by means of the chuteframe. For instance,if the upper branch of the chute should be in a perpendicular positionand the lower branch in a horizontal IOO I t-ion, while the lowerbranch, being inclined,

will allow the 'cakes or crackers to be delivered through it by gravity,thus insuring their escape from the same. The back plate 0 of thechute-frame G has a horizontal slot 19, and vertical partitions q are inthe chuteframe, and each one has a set-screw p, which occupies the saidhorizontal slot pin the back. By this means the partitions q may beadjusted laterally in the chute-frame, so as to form down-passages ofwidths to suit crackers of any size. It will be noticed that the ends ofthe guides F on the hopper-bottom abut against the edges of the verticalpartitions q in the chute-frame.

The lower end of the chute-frame G has a forward-proj ecting foot 1",which receives the crackers as they drop down the chute. This foot isprovided with guides g, each of which has a vertical slit or slot 0",and a stationary delivery-table II has parallel passages or spacesvformed by guide-boards 8, provided at their ends with tongues 8-, whichloosely enter the slits r" in the said guides q. The slit and tongueconnection thus made allows the hopper A, its chute-frame G, and foot 1to vibrate longitudinally without breaking the continuity of thepassages from the chuteframe G to the delivery-table H.

The operation is as follows: The drive-shaft D being set in motion, thehopper C will vibrate, as described, and the brushes E will revolveunalfected by said vibration. Crackers,

biscuits, cakes, ginger-snaps, or other products of the bakery may beplaced in bulk ormass upon the hopper O, and the motion caused by thevibrating mechanism will give rise to a tremulous or up and downyielding motion, which the spiral springs I) afford. These motions ofthe hopper 0 cause the crackers to spread over the bottom evenly,

'&c., the combination of a vibrating hopper,

which result the revolving brushes E assist. In the case of squarecrackers, the guides F keep them from turning as they move along andprevent their corners from interfering with each other. When thecrackers reach the front edge of the hopper they tilt and pass edgewisedown the passages of the chutein the presence of two witnesses. on theiredges. Each cracker that drops down i frame G, and on reaching the foot'1" they rest the chute-frame takes position behind the cracker thatdropped previously, and thus the I crackers are delivered one at a timethrough I the narrow passage at the lower end of the chute-frame G, soas to remain on their edges with their fiat surfaces in contact and formstacks or rows which extend along the top of the delivery-table H, fromwhence they are lifted by manual labor.

The particular construction shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 is amodification of the foot of the chute-frame employed, by preference,when round crackers are to be stacked. The changes consist of addingtubes I to the foot of the chute-frame, so that each passage between theguides q will have a tube. These tubes, as shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8,are confined to their place by -a cross-bar J, which sets across thetops of the said tubes. The tubes I are attached to the lower end of thechute G, and are held in position thereby. The vertical sideguide-boards 8, used on the delivery-table for square crackers, (seeFigs. 3 and 4,) are removed and guide-bars substituted, the saidguide-barst being provided with tongues 25 for-the purpose. These latterhave two bevel sides a, (see Figs. 7 and 8,) which better serve tosustain the round crackers edgewise. Y

Having described our invention, we claim 1. In a machine for arrangingcrackers,

vdzc, the combination of a supporting-stand,

an inclined frame hinged on top of the stand and supported by springs,and a vibrating hopper resting on said spring-frame and provided with adepending chute-frame.

2. In a machine for arranging crackers, &c., the combination of asupporting-stand, an inclined frame hinged 011 top of the stand andsupported by springs, a hopper connected with the said frame by slides,a crank-shaft mounted on the stand, and a pitman-rod' attached to thecrank and hopper.

3. In a machine for arranging crackers,

. &c., the combination of a supporting-stand, a vibrating hopper, armst, secured to the stand and projecting up at each side of the hopper,and a revoluble brush mounted at the upper ends of said arms. I

l. In a machine for arranging crackers, the combination of a vibratinghopper, a depending chute-frame having a curved slot, and a set-screwseated therein, whereby the chuteframe is adjusted and held at anyangle, as set forth.

5. In a machine for arranging crackers,

and a chute-frame attached thereto, having a .foot, guides on the foot,each having a vertical slit, and a delivery-table having guide- .boardsprovided with tongues which loosely enter the said slitted foot-guides.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures GEORGE SMITH. EDWARD S.BRIGHT; Witnesses:

JOHN E. MORRIS, J N0. T. MADDOX.

